Loose leaf binder support



Oct. 10, 1933. R. J. COPELAND 1,929,482

LOOSE LEAF BINDER SUPPORT Filed Dec. 17, 1927 fin/anion floerl JCope/aha.

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Patented Oct. 10, 1933 Robert J. Copeland, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaApplication December 1'7, 1927,

Serial No. 240,899 1 t Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a simple, cheapand effective means for supporting the binder back of loose leaf bindersso as to facilitate the handling of same particu- 5. larly in thetransferring or shifting of leaves from one set of. binder prongs toanother and further, to support the back so that the leaves will liefiat for more convenient writing.

The principal feature of the invention consists in providing a meansseparate from the binder having raised points of support spaced apartand adapted to engage the binder and hold it in an elevated position sothat the hinged members of the binder metal may swing freely.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a loose leafbinder shown with the hinged binder back supported in a raised positionwith the opposite sets of binder prongs spaced apart in the openposition.

Figure 2 is a part end elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the hingedbinder back members in position with the ends of the opposite sets ofbinder prongs overlapping.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a simple form of my invention.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of two modified forms of myinvention shown on a smaller scale than Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a desk top showing two furthermodifications of this invention.

In the handling of loose leaf binders it is frequently found necessaryto open the hinged binder back to separate the two sets of prongs sothat sheets may be shifted from one set of prongs to another.

Many different means have been devised for effecting the shifting ofgroups of sheets from one set of prongs to another set and thisinvention has been devised to facilitate the use of any of theseshifting devices and also to hold the binder in such a position that thehinged back may be opened and held so that the leaves will be fiat tofacilitate writing thereon instead of being bent downwardly at the inneredges.

The invention is extremely simple and is capable of being incorporatedin numerous forms of structure, the principal element being thearrangement of a pair of spaced and elevated points of support for thebinder back which will allow the hinged metal back to swing freely to anopen or closed position without danger of slipping and disengaging theleaves from the binder prongs, the height of the spaced supports beingjust suificient to provide for the swinging of the back sections to theposition shown in Figure 2.so that it will be seen that the central orback section of the binder is only slightly elevated above the outeredges of the cover which reston the fiat'desk" or table top. Iii-thisway the sheets will be supported in a very convenient and efiicientwriting position while at the same time permitting easy manipulation ofthe back sections in positioning the prongs.

The form of the device illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises astrip 1 of sheet metal or other stiil material bent upwardly to form apair of spaced inverted V-shaped supports 2, the apexesB of which areraised from the base 4 a sufficient height to allow thev unlocked hingedsections of the binder back 5 to rest in the trough-like space betweenthe supports 2 with the ends of the prongs 6 slightly overlapping.

The apexes of the supports form pivots which engage'fthe binder backsubstantially opposite the hinge joints 7 connecting the hinged backsections and the covers of the binder consequently the hinging' movementis quite free and the person using the book may with a slight up wardpressure of the fingers raise the hinged portions of the binder to theposition shown in Figure 1 to separate the ends of the prongs 6 or witha downward pressure may depress the said hinged sections to the positionillustrated in Figure 2.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 is a solid block 8which may be of metal, wood or any desirable substance having a pair ofraised projections 9 extending above the base 10 spaced apart and havingapexes to form hinge supports for the binder back.

In Figure 5 is illustrated a metal or fibre sheet base having aplurality of lugs 11 stamped therefrom and turned upwardly, said lugsbeing spaced apart to allow the binder back to rest upon the pointsthereof whether placed lengthwise or crosswise of the plate and thehinged back sections will pivot on the points of the lugs.

In Figure 6 are two further modifications, one being shown in the formof a pair of inverted U-shaped wires 12 spaced apart in a fixed positionhaving the down-turned ends of the wires inserted in holes in the desktop. The top sections of the wires form effective pivots for the binderbacks. The other form is a single length of wire 13 bent to form a pairof uprights E14 which form pivot supports for the binder back.

From these illustrations it will be readily appreciated that numerousother simple forms of Gil this invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the principal feature defined.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A support for loose leaf binders having back sections hinged to thecovers, said back sec tions having respective sets of co-operatingcurved prongs, comprising means separate from the binder presentingpermanently positioned rigid raised supports spaced apart,.said supportsbeing ridged for the purpose of engaging the cover hinges in fulcrumcontact and being of a height sufficient only to support the inwardhinge side of the covers in the minimum elevated position relative tothe outer free sides, said supports presenting inward support surfaceswhich converge downwardly at an angle so related to the supported openbinder back thatthe latter is engaged and positioned thereby with theends of the respective sets of prongs just sufliciently overlapped tofacilitate transfer of sheets from one to the other, wherebyobjectionable roll or curvature. of the inward portions of the sheets isminimized to facilitate insertion of written entries.

2. A support for loose leaf binders having back sections hinged to thecovers,lcomprising a base having outer and intermediate base portionsdisposed in a common plane to rest on a desk or table top, pairedprojections, rigid with said base portions and each disposed between theintermediate portion and the corresponding outer base portion, saidpaired projections each being of inverted V-shape the ridges'thereofpresenting fulcrum contacts with the cover hinges and spaced above thebase portions a height sufficient only to permit the downward swingingof the back sections to a position where they engage the inward slopingsides of said inverted V-projections in positioning contact effectingthe support of the hinge side of the covers in a slightly elevatedposition relative to the outer free sides thereof to facilitateinsertion of written entries.

3. A support for loose leaf binders having back sections hinged to thecovers, comprising a thin sheet of metal presenting outer andintermediate flat base portions disposed in a common plane to rest flaton a desk or other support surface and having portions between saidfiatbase portions bent upwardly and shaped to form permanent rigidspaced supports, said supports being ridged for the purpose of engagingthe cover hinges in fulcrum contact.

4. A support for loose leaf binders having back sections hinged to thecovers, comprising a thin sheet of metal presenting outer andintermediate flat base portions disposed in a common plane to rest flaton a desk or other support surface and having portions between said flatbase portions deformed bodily into inverted V-forms for the purpose ofproviding sloping ridged supports the ridges of which engage the coverhinges in fulcrum contact while the sloping surfaces thereof positionthe back sections.

5. A support for loose leaf binders having back sections hinged to thecovers, comprising a thin sheet of metal presenting outer andintermediate fiat base portions disposed in a common plane to rest flaton a desk or other support surface and having triangular portionssevered partially therefrom leaving the base portions thereof integralwith said fiat base portions, said triangular portions being bentupwardly into substantially right angular relation to the plane ofdisposition of said fiat base portions whereby the ridges of thetriangular portions present fulcrum contacts with the cover hinges andthe inward side edges thereof present sloping guides for positioning theback sections.

R. J. COPELAND.

